Mopping device.



H. F. ACKERMAN.

MOPPING DEVICE.

(Application filed May 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet I.

No. 70|, 985. Patented June l0, I902.

llfitnessets: N 5] a I I Inventor.

Attorney:

Patented lune I0, 1902 H. F. AC KERMAN. MOIPPING DEVICE.

(Appl icr .tion filed May 13, 1901.)

2 Shaets-$heet 2,

(No Model.)

' hi 1' Inventor.

Mu Yrmwo ab-mw.

H 71.5. fitter/16y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' HARMON FRANCIS AOKERMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MO PPlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 701,985, dated June 1.0,.1902.

Application filed May 13 To aZlwhont it may concern.-

Be it known-that I, HARMON FRANCIS AOK-- same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mopping-machines; and it consists of the features herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more espev ers may have one or more circumferential grooves a formed thereon, the grooves of all the rollers lining up with each other. On the roller side of the mops ropes a maybe se cially pointed out in the annexed claims.

The object of my device is to afford a simple and reliable apparatus that though powerdriven is independent of its source of power;

in its radius of action and can be operated 'from either end without change of the driv-' ing relation of the several parts of the device] The device quickly and most; e'fliciently.

cleans a surface bysp'raying water thereon and mopping the surface with a rapidly-moving mopping fabric. This gathersup all the surplus water, and by means of the mop the charged surplusis conveyed to a storage water-tank, from which it can again be used when the machine is operated in'a reverse direction. When themachine is used daily on floor-surfaces, they are kept much cleaner than could be attained byhandmanipulation. Consequently the watergusedin connection with my device does not become as dirty as when the work islia'nd done. For this 0 reason I am enabled to use the water over and over again during a single period of cleaning.

With these ends in'view I illustrate such features of adaptation in the accompanying drawings as showthe underlying principles of my device without in any sense limiting myselfto the specific construction shown.

Figure 1 is a side elevation in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the device. Fig. 3 is an elevation in section of Fig. 1 through one of the storage-tanks on a somewhat smaller scale. Fig. 4 is a front elevation showingthe motor in 1901. serial In. 60.104. on model.)

dotted'lines; Fig. 5 is a small perspective view of the entire machine. Fig. 6 is a detail of a handle-catch. Fig. 7 is a View showing the conductor wheel and interrelated parts. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view.

I utilize a pair of continuously-moving mops A, which move over idlerrollersa, over takeup rollers a, and over driving wringer-rolls 0. The wringer-rollrs are intergeared at one end. One of these rollers is made adjustable, so as to modify thewringing efiect.

*This is accomplished by moving the bearingblocks a to and fro by means of set-screws a The other wringer-roll runs in a hookedbearing'a", as shown-in Fig. 2. Rollers 0. also have bearing in adjustable blocks a These rollers have flanges a for the purpose of guiding the mops. If-desired, all the rollcured. These ropes will run'in the grooves of the roller, and thus prevent any extreme 'sidewise movement of the mops. Rollers a openings, and they serveto hold the crossties b Partsb? and I) serve as supports for water-tanks O.

In order thatjt-he tanksC may be easily withdrawn from the machine, handlesc are placed thereon. The two tanks arebuiltin'duplicate.

From the bottom of tank 0 a pipe-outlet is formed which leads to a spring-pressed valve 0, which is controlled by any suitable means such, for instance, as the chain shown. From the valve a'transverse pipe 0 leads underneath supporting-pieces b and this pipe is perforated, so as to distribute-the water delivery. By means of this construction there is nothing to hinder the-easy withdrawal of the watertanks whenever found necessary.

The machine is preferably driven by an electric motor D, though I do not limit myself to. this method of driving, as compressed air might be utilized or a fiexible-shaftarrangement might be adopted, and instead of the current-conductor wheel I might use storage batteries with the motor, if such a method of driving were found desirable. Motor D drives, by means of chain cl, onto sprocketwheel d, which is fastened to eitherone of the wringer-rollers CF.

The mops A travel in the direction of the arrows,and the moisture collected by them is extracted by reason of one mop running against its companion between the wringer rolls. The water that is extracted from the mops drops upon a deflecting shield-plate A, which covers over the motor D and drops down 011 each side thereof, ending in upwardly-curving troughs A, which have an inclination toward one side of the machine. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) At the lowest point of troughs A holes a are formed, which communicate with a reversing trough E, pivotally attached to one of the side plates B. A projection extends out from this trough through the plate Band terminates in a hand-lever e, which is held by pins e at either extreme of movement.

When it is desired to direct the water extracted from the mops to either tank, the hand 6 is moved in the direction the water is to go.

IVhen the machine is moved in one direction, the proper tankis used, and when moved in an opposite direction the othertank may be used. The machine isdirected to its work by a handle F, that may be reversed on its pivoted supports a, according to the direction the machine is to move. Catchesf are placed on one of the plates B at each end of the movement of handle F. These catches consist of a pivoted memberf, that is springpressed and has a beveled head f so formed that the handle F will pass by the same more readilyin one direction than the other. The memberf is spring-pressed, as shown in Fig. 6, and this construction allows the operator to lift themops from the floor and then move the machine around on wheels G.

I lead the current to the motorD by a flexible cable attached to a plug that is inserted into any ordinary lamp-socket. The cable is reeled upon a flanged wheel II. This wheel is pivoted on a fork h, its axle being attached to a coil-spring mechanism which keeps the cable under tension at all times, automatically taking up the slack thereof when the machine is moved in the direction of the fixture end of the cable.

Connections are made from the wheel through metallic rings (1 on its hub onto insulated contact-brushes 7t, and from here the wires lead to insulated brushes 7L2, which bear on insulated rings a, secured to the wheelfork standard H. From here the wires pass down into the standard H and from thence to the starting-box H switch Hfland motor D.

Standard 11 is bent as shown, or it may extend up straight from standard 1-1 but it is pivoted in H and it has pivoted at its upper end wheel-fork 7L. This standard has a collar 7L3, from which a depending finger 7r projects. This collar serves to prevent the movement of standard II to a greater extent than onehalf a revolution, so as to prevent twisting oil": of the leading-in wires. The finger strikes against stops 71, at the extremes of its movement. Collar 7t also serves to establish the operative height of the wheel H.

The wheel II has a cable-guide ct pivoted to its fork, which serves to guide the cable on and off of the wheel as the machine is moved to and fro. The specific wire connections from rheostat H switch H and motor D are not specifically shown, as they are well known in the art.

In Fig. 1 the floor-line being operated upon is shown in full lines and the floor-line upon which the machine would operate if moved in the opposite direction is shown in dotted lines, this being illustrated in this manner so as not to necessitate showing the machine in a tilted position, thereby destroying the symmetrical proportions of the drawing.

Fig. 5 is given to show the assembled relation more than to disclose specific details.

It should be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific details as shown, but believe myself entitled to numerous modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I do not claim in this case, broadly, the automatic current-collecting devices, nor the current-conductor reel and conductor-guide pivotally secured to the wheel-support, in combination with a tension device secured to the wheel, nor the movable stop secured to the wheel-standard, in combination with means on the basestandard for limiting the motion of the wheel-standard, these devices forming the subject-matter of an application for patent filed by me and designated by Serial No. 82,450.

What I claim is 1. In mopping-machines, a pair of continu ously-moving mops, and means for driving the same in reverse directions in combination with means for wringing the mops while moving in contact with each other, substantially as set forth.

2. In mopping-machines, asuitablesupportlug-frame, endless mops movably held thereon, and means for causing said mops to travel in different directions in combination with suitable carrying-wheels for said frame, and means for controlling the position of the frame on said wheels, substantially as set forth.

3. In mopping-machines, asuitable supporting structure, endless webs of moisture-absorbing material movably held thereon, and means for causing said webs to travel in different directions in combination with rolling supports for said structure, and means for controlling the position of the structure on such supports wherebyeither one of said webs may be brought into action, substantially as set forth.

4. In mopping-machines, a pairof mops running in contact with each other between wringer-rolls, a pair of tanks located in 0perative relation to the wringer-rolls, means IZC for directing the extracted water into either tank, and means for delivering water in ad-' Vance of either mop, in combination with means for movably supporting, the mops tanks &c., and suitably controlling constructions whereby either mop may be brought into operation, substantially as set forth.

5. In mopping-machines, a pair of continuously-moving mops, means for wringing said mops simultaneously, and means for moving them in reverse directions, in combination with means adapted to bring either mop into action upon a surface to be mopped, substantially as set forth.

6. In mopping-machines, a movable structure, supporting-wheels therefor, and a pair of mopping devices secured thereon,in combination with a controlling-handle pivotally secured to the structure and means for removably holding the same in extreme positions whereby either of the mopping devices may be brought into action, substantially as set forth.

7. In mopping-machines, a .continuously- I an enlarged cross-sectionof said fabricexv tending. lengthwise thereof, andcompanion moving fabric, rollers forsupporting the same,

places'of the rollersformed of smaller diameter, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof-,I afiixmysignature 3o 4 in presence of two witnesses.

llARMON FRANCIS AC'KERMAN.

Witnesses:

r H. G. OSBORN, E. S. HOUGH. 

